Looking to eat meatless on a budget? Look no further! This week’s installment of Meatless Mondays is a recipe for a personal favorite of mine (especially on a gray, dreary day) “beef” stew!
I think back to the cold, bitter winters of my childhood on Cape Cod, and I remember the house smelling so good when I’d come in from playing outside and Mom had a big pot of beef stew simmering away on the stove. We’d gather around and chow down with big pieces of bread slathered in butter to sop up the remaining stew our spoons couldn’t get.
Some things have changed, like the fact that I don’t eat meat anymore, or the fact that I don’t play pretend outside with my friends anymore, but one thing remains the same: on a cold, bitter day, there is nothing better than a hearty beef stew. Except for a hearty beef stew without the animal involvement.
I made this last year for my friends on Halloween, and no one missed the meat. In fact, they all liked it, and let me be the first to say that impressing a room full of meat-eaters with a dish that traditionally contains meat and now doesn’t is something that never gets old.
Because I made this a year ago I unfortunately do not have any pictures, but I will come back and add them once I do!
You’ll need…
- 1 lb ground beef substitute
- 1.5 pounds of large, diced potatoes
- 3 sliced carrots
- 1 diced onion
- 1 minced clove of garlic
- 1 can of tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
Brown and drain ground beef substitute. Add to slow cooker with potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic.
In separate bowl, mix together tomato paste, water, and spices. Pour over ingredients in slow cooker and stir.
Cover and cook on LOW 6-7 hours. Do not remove lid while stew is cooking.
Enjoy!
Stephanie Jean 